Streetlife

I find all the comments about shopping in Barking really sad. Unfortunately, though, they are all true. The 'powers-that-be' have allowed all the shops to be taken over by fast food outlets and "pound" shops. If you want to buy any decent clothing, including shoes, you only have Dorothy Perkins/Evans and Burton. Everywhere else seems to sell cheap, poorly made, mass-produced clothing, 'plastic' shoes and general 'tack'. I have seen groups of women (non-English speaking), jostling the elderly as they shop, which must be extremely intimidating. My mother-in-law once turned to find one such woman with her hand in her trolley & just about managed to stop her grabbing her purse. She had her purse stolen twice whilst shopping in the town centre.

Walking through the market you will find so many stalls selling the same clothes & goods; nothing to entice the general shopper. The last time I was in Barking & walked through the market it was dead with stallholders twiddling their thumbs.  I do feel sorry for them as they are all trying to make a decent living. I don't know what the answer as I think Barking has gone too far down the "tat" route to have any chance of bringing some decent shops back to the town. Thank goodness for the aboved mentioned Burton, etc., and also Boots. Other than those, if you're looking for decent shops, unfortunately, you won't find them in Barking.  :(